Four Israeli settlers have been shot dead in a car near Hebron in the West Bank in a night-time ambush. The car was attacked at the entrance to the Kiryat Arba settlement on route 60, and may have been attacked from another passing car.

The area is the scene of regular clashes between Palestinians and Israeli settlers, and there have been several shootings on the road in recent months. In June a policeman was killed and two others injured.

Israeli ambulance services say the victims were two men and two women, one of whom was pregnant.

The Palestinian security forces immediately announced they are investigating the incident.

The killings come on the eve of the resumption of direct peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis in Washington.

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